This event will highlight the cutting edge innovation and practical application of research-based knowledge conducted at the University of Maine on wild blueberry. This work is shaping the future of wild blueberry production in Maine with you and for you. Farmers and interested members of the public are invited to learn, connect, and contribute! In […]
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Burning wild blueberry fields is a traditional practice with deep Indigenous roots and remains a vital tool for organic pest and disease management. Our new fact sheet explains the benefits and risks of burning versus mowing, provides step-by-step guidance on how to safely burn using oil or straw, and outlines important legal requirements and best […]
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Curious how to ensure your boom sprayer is applying the right amount of pesticide every time? Read our new fact sheet on boom sprayer calibration. UMaine Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist Dr. Lily Calderwood and Research Technician Jordan Parks provide a clear, step-by-step guide to calibrating your sprayer using the 1/128th method, ensuring effective pest control, […]
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Wild Blueberry Newsletter Early March 2025 Phenology Report Jordan Parks visited our four overwintering weather stations and reports back that as of February 26th sites from Warren to Whiting were covered in snow. Snow cover insulates this year’s buds protecting them from harsh winter winds. NOAA Climate Outlook The April, May and June weather outlook provided […]
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Wild Blueberry Newsletter April 2025 Have you calibrated your sprayer? Come join us for a refresher or to learn how to calibrate a sprayer for the first time on Thursday, April 17th in Appleton! Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025Time: 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.Location: Appleton Station (Nash Farms), 1193 Peabody Road, Appleton, Maine 04862Cost: FreePesticide Credits: 1 Season Update: We are visiting […]
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Join UMaine’s Wild Blueberry Team for a series of free summer events on wild blueberry field management. Highlights include sprayer calibration sessions, discussions on pest and pollinator management, and our annual Field Day at Blueberry Hill Research Farm in Jonesboro. Visit our Upcoming Events Page to view the full schedule and register. For questions, contact […]
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The Calderwood Lab has released a new fact sheet, Considerations for Solar on Wild Blueberry Land in Maine, detailing research on the feasibility of dual-use solar installations (or agrivoltaics) over Maine wild blueberry fields. While wild blueberry plants recovered well after solar installation, excessive shading significantly reduced yield, making dual-use solar unprofitable under standard industry […]
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Keeping the Spirit of Maine’s Wild Blueberry Harvest Alive By Kate Olson, July/August, 2024 (Smithsonian Magazine) Kate Olson made the journey to Down East Maine last year to interview Wabanaki and migrant wild blueberry harvesters, as well as University of Maine Wild Blueberry Extension Specialist Dr. Lily Calderwood. Olson learned firsthand about the enduring traditions […]
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University of Maine awarded $3.5M for new statewide weather network By Christian Harsa, December 9, 2024 (News Center Maine) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded the lab of the University of Maine’s Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist, Dr. Lily Calderwood, a $3.5M grant to install a statewide system of advanced weather stations, News […]
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Video: Wild Foods Maine Blueberries Produced by Wild Foods, November 23, 2024 Dr. Lily Calderwood, Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist and Assistant Professor of Horticulture at the University of Maine, joined Kevin Chap of the PBS travel series “Wild Foods” in the summer of 2024. In “Wild Foods”, Chap travels across the country to interview foragers, […]
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